April 2013 - Mayra & Rafael

Every Friday we load up in 4 or 5 vans and head out in teams to visit the sick and elderly in the area surrounding the Lord’s Food Bank in Juarez, Mexico. Each van is assigned a different route with about 10 - 12 stops to make. Besides bringing groceries for the week, we also spend some time chatting with whomever we are visiting, finding out how each person is doing and what new needs they may have that we can help meet.

There are two very beautiful children with special needs that we get to see on these weekly visits. Mayra, a 14 year old girl, has been cared for by her grandmother since birth. She was born severely disabled and cannot move or talk, although she can hear. Her mother felt unable to care for her and gave her to Mayra’s grandmother. Since Mayra is bedridden, we include a supply of diapers along with the usual groceries that we bring.

Nearby is Rafael’s family. We just found out about Rafael recently and have added his family to our routes. Rafael’s dad struggles to support his family by working at a bakery, while Rafael’s mom stays home to care for her special needs son. Rafael is also confined to bed and cannot speak, but he gets very excited when visitors drop by to see him. He has a huge smile and his whole body jerks in delight when we walk in.

Both of these children are lovingly cared for by their families — families that face such hardship and challenges in their poverty and need but who have deep faith in God and real love for these precious children entrusted to them. On my first visit to meet Rafael, I was struck by the photos proudly displayed on the walls of him as a baby and as a younger boy.

As we were leaving, we sensed Rafael’s mom wanted to tell us something but seemed embarrassed to do so. Apologetically she said, “The diapers you brought last week are too big for him.” She showed the size he needed held next to the rather large size we had brought. Happily we assured her we’d bring the correct size the following week.

February 2013 - Jose's Survival

We want to share with you the remarkable story of  Jose de la Cruz Fraire, a 29 year old man we have been helping. A few years ago, when the  violence in Juarez was raging, and people were afraid to go out after dark, some friends came to Jose asking for a ride since he owned a truck. His wife begged him not to go because it was late, but he decided to do it and took his young son with him.

Suddenly, as they were driving along, a car abruptly pulled in front of them. One of the men in the car lifted a gun, took aim at Jose and shot him in the neck. Jose lost control of his truck and slammed it into a post. The “friends” of Jose jumped out and fled, leaving him and the boy behind. Bleeding profusely, Jose grabbed his son (also named Jose) and started running, trying to get his son safely away from the assailants who were stripping the truck of anything of value that they could carry. But as Jose took off holding his son, he felt two more shots in his side. Still running, another gunshot hit his left leg. Trying valiantly to save his son, he felt the last bullet hit his head, and he fell to the ground. He told his son to keep on running, but his son refused to leave his dad’s side. The gunmen came, took Jose’s wallet and said, “This guy is dead. Let’s go.” And they tore off down the road. Thank God they didn’t do anything to little Jose.

Jose had collapsed very close to our Food Bank, and one of our neighbors went out to help Jose and his son. She called a friend who had a car so they could take him to find medical help. “As they were driving,” Jose shared, “praise songs to God kept coming into my head — me, who NEVER went to church and never sang those kind of songs.” Stopping at three different clinics for help, they were turned away each time because the staff, taking one look at Jose, said he was going to die anyway. Finally, one clinic accepted him, and after 6 days transferred him to the general hospital. He was in the hospital for a month and a half, and every time the doctors came to see him, they said he was going to die soon. They called the family when they removed Jose from the respirator, but to their surprise, he did not die. Jose told his sister to just let him die because the doctors said that if he did survive, he would be completely paralyzed. But his sister told him, “Where is your faith? Trust in God!”

“A few nights after my sister said that,” Jose related, “a man came into my hospital room. He had long hair and a beard and was carrying a Bible. He stood next to my bed, looked at me, and said, ‘Don’t worry. You are not going to die. God doesn’t want that yet.’ Right then, I was able to wiggle my toes for the first time since I had been shot.” Nobody except Jose ever saw the man.

Today, not only is Jose alive, he has regained the use of his arms and hands and is now able to walk a little with a walker. He is getting better and better each day. We have repaired the family’s house and added on a big room and bathroom for Jose to get around in with his wheelchair. His wife, who works at a factory and earns $50 a week, is so grateful to God for sparing her husband’s life. Their eldest daughter, Alejandra, who left school to help care for her father, is hoping to go back to school when her dad is well enough. With God’s help, and the way that Jose is progressing, that should be very soon.  

January 2013 - Playground

We recently were able to purchase the area of land surrounding our center at Loma Blanca, a very poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Juarez, Mexico. Many of the homes do not have electricity and the city is just now in the process of bringing water out to this area. We told you about the soccer teams that we have organized with the youth who attend our catechism classes, and now we hope to make a small field and playground which the kids can use.

In the providence of God, someone just donated a large wooden swing and slide set. Some of the men went to pick it up this week, took apart all the pieces and loaded it on the truck. They took pictures and numbered the various sections with chalk so they can remember how to reassemble it when they get it over to Loma Blanca.

  

The kids are so excited about having a place of their own to play. Even though it will be a rough dirt field, to them it is a dream come true.

We pray that you have a very happy and healthy New Year!

December 2012 - Jail Ministry

It was always Father Thomas’s hope that we would be involved in all of the ministries Jesus mentions in Matthew 25:35-36, “...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” And for many years we have been able to help our brothers and sisters in all of those ways, thanks be to God and to all of you.

However, when the violence due to the drug wars erupted in the border towns of Mexico a few years ago, and Juarez become known as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, the administrators of the jails that we visited each week asked us to stop coming, both for our safety and for theirs. Sadly, we had to discontinue what we had done for over 30 years —  bringing the Gospel message to the prisoners of 3 jails in Juarez and also bringing them something to eat and drink since many times they go hungry. It was a sad day when we could no longer do that.

But we are happy to report that as of last month we are able once again to go into the jails. Since things in the city have calmed down quite a bit, we phoned the people in charge and asked them if we could return. They were very glad we called and warmly invited us back. “When can you start?” they inquired.

So every Wednesday, as we had done for many years, our volunteers make dozens of sandwiches, prepare a drink, and our evangelists and prayer warriors load into the vans to go visit the Lord in prison. We are very glad to be able to bring some love and cheer to our brothers and sisters behind bars.

Thank you so much for making it possible for us to do this and all the other outreaches we are involved in. We pray that you and your loved ones be blessed this Christmas time with the joy and peace that Jesus came to bring.

November 2012 - soccer team

One of the places where we minister is in a very poor section of Juarez called Loma Blanca. Besides giving groceries to families in need, we also teach catechism to the children of the area every Saturday. After the kids have received their First Communion, however, it is very hard to keep them interested in coming to the center. We wanted to be able to continue teaching them about their faith and also provide a wholesome environment where they could hang out. So one of our volunteer teachers, Mando, came up with the idea to start a soccer team. It met with instant success and has changed the situation completely.

Starting with the older boys, Mando began coaching them, teaching them how to play together as a team. He even got some uniforms donated so they could feel like they truly were a team. One of the boys is named Alonso. He is 14 years old and has been coming to the center for 4 years, brought there by his mother each week. Sad and withdrawn, Alonso wouldn’t talk to anybody. If asked a question directly, he would only nod or shake his head. He used to stay in the back, hovering in the doorway. “I was having so much trouble with him,” his mother confided. “He was starting to get involved with the gangs.” But ever since he was invited to join the new soccer team, he is a different person. He talks all the time now and wants to help out. “He used to be in his own world, but now he feels he belongs. I’m so happy with the changes in him.”

Now the youth are excited about coming each week. Some even come without their mothers bringing them.  They attend Mass and their classes in the morning, and then after lunch head outside to play soccer. They are very well-behaved and attentive because they know that if they act up in class, they won’t be able to play. That’s the rule, and they are eager to comply. The younger kids are now asking for their own team. “Hey, what about us?” they clamor. Our goal is to eventually form enough teams so that we can have our own league.

We quickly saw that we needed to provide more food and Gatorade for the children since they stay all day long now. They don’t leave until it’s time for us to close up for the day. But we’re so happy to have them around, knowing they are in a safe place and that they have a healthy outlet for their pent-up energy.